-* Hostile Forces 



was encamped at the MLTU Hills, some clays' journey 

 from Kilimanjaro, in the midst of banana-groves an un- 

 questionably poor strategic position, but chosen for want 

 of a better. 



I cannot say that the natives had shown a particu- 

 larly friendly disposition. The men especially, when they 

 came, armed with spears, into camp during the daytime, 



showed themselves shy and hostile; when I spoke to 

 them, they turned away and disappeared among the 

 bananas, while the women bartered their field-produce, 

 as the custom is, among the carriers. 



In the absence ot the leader of the expedition, I 

 found myself alone in the camp with my dear friend 

 .Alfred Kaiser a man who has spent many years ot 

 his life amongst the Bedouin Arabs, and at Sinai 



679 



